THE HISTORY OF CASS......AUGUST 31 2011...............

We arrived at Cass WV just at 3 p.m., Bobbie and Tim had arrived just minutes before us.   Talk about perfect timing.

We checked into our cottage, unloaded all our stuff, then set out to explore the town until time to board the train.

Here is our cottage.  It was two story, kitchen, dining room and living room on the first floor, three bedrooms and bath on second.

the bath was the size of a closet, shower stall, sink and you know what, hardly enough room to turn around, and there were six of us. 

The accommodations were clean, the beds comfortable, we slept very well, so have no complaints.  After all, we WERE on an adventure.

Parking in the train station parking lot, we explored.  There was a museum telling the history of Cass and it's unusual Shay engines.

We explored the Company Store, the gift shop, checked out the restaurant.  Pretty soon we heard the train whistle, and were able to watch the 3 p.m. trip into the mountains returning to Cass.

This was about 4:30 p.m.  We were to board at 5 p.m., leaving the station at 5:15 p.m.

And the fun begins.

As this was the dinner trip, there were not as many people on the train as for the regular trips, we had our car almost to ourselves.  There were only about 6 other people sharing this car with us.    Pretty soon we started out.  The next picture I am going to share is of the old lumber mill area, which is now in ruins.

At one time in the early 1900's Cass was a booming lumber town,
the workers living in the company houses, making their purchases as the company store.

The RR tracks were completed to the top of the mountain in 1901, and the shay engines were especially made to have the power to haul the tons of logs that were being harvested and brought down to Cass for processing.  It took a special engine to handle the logs.

These were called Shay engines, and they are being used today to haul people rather than logs.  When the lumber business fell off in this area, the town was abandoned. 

Eventually West Virginia bought the land and buildings and to preserve a part of West Virginia history, it became a State Park.  The cottages were refurbished to house visitors.  The company store resurrected as a company store.  11 miles of train track were preserved.  The shorter trip to Whittaker Station is 4-1/2 miles up into the mountains.  The Bald Knob trip is 11 miles, making two stops, one at Whittaker Station and one at the water tower to take on more water to have enough steam to actually get to Bald Knob.  The same two stops were made on the return trip. 

There is only one Bald Knob trip per day, leaving at noon. Tere are three Whittaker Station trips, 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. 

The Whittaker Station trip makes onestop on the way back, at the outskirts of Cass, to take on water, getting ready for the next trip up the mountain.

I told you earlier about the rain, the surprise birthday song, the good meal, the cake, and all that.  If anyone were to say they had a perfect day, that would be my day.  We had such a good time!

Tomorrow I'll review some of the things we did on Sunday and a couple of stops on the way down on Saturday.

So will leave you hanging now.  Have a good day and God Bless.

NANCY and ME and the BRIDGE MAKES THREE......AUGUST 30 2011

Today I will begin the saga of our weekend.  We left about 7 a.m. Saturday morning, stopped at Bob Evans in Morgantown WV for breakfast.  Then on the road.  Our first stop was in Philippi West Virginia to see their famous Philippi Covered Bridge.

Now for some history -- The Philippi Covered Bridge was built in 1852 serving both local traffic and U S. Route 250 traffic.

The bridge is 26 feet wide (a double lane bridge) and 285 feet long.  This bridge was the site of the first land battle of the Civil War on June 3 1861.  Union troops surprised the Confederate troops, capturing this very important bridge.  The bridge changed hands several times during the Civil War.

This is the bridge as it looks today.

In the beginning there was a tollgate at the east end to collect fares.  Carriages with two horses were charged 35 cents.  A horse and rider paid 10 cents, a score of sheep 5 cents, and each head of cattle 1.5 cents.  (Did they have half cent coins, or did they cut a penny in half?)

This next picture is one I took years ago of the original bridge.

In February 1989 this original bridge was severely damaged by fire.  It took two years to rebuild the bridge, finally ready to re-open Rt 250 across the Tygart River.

Upon tearing down the charred bridge, numerous musket balls were found embedded in the wood, remnants of the Civil War Battles.

This bridge was our first stop on our way to Cass. 

We had no fixed schedule, just had to check in at the Cass Park headquarters to pick up our cottage key before 4 p.m.  You have probably figured out that this is Nancy and me. 

We just potsied along, I kept son Mike busy turning around and going back when there was something I wanted to photograph.  Luckily he likes to take pictures also (he is very good) so he didn't decide to leave me somewhere alongside the road, figuring he would pick me up on the way home on Sunday, provided he returned the same way, which we didn't.


We really had a good time.  Bobbie and Tim were on their way to Cass (they are both in the army, and have their home on the West Virginia border) where we would all meet up for the weekend. 

I have a lot more pictures, some of which I will share during this week.

In the meantime have to get busy here.  Son Andy and D-i-L Lauri arriving on Friday evening for a 9 day visit.  Can hardly wait.

You will see more of Nancy, as she is going with us when we visit Niagara Falls next week. 

So, in the meantime, enjoy the sunshine.  It really does feel like fall outside, especially in the mornings.  Winter will be here all too soon, so relax, enjoy, and God Bless.

SURPRISE!!!!!AUGUST 27 2011............................

And a surprise it was!!!!  Even though this is August 29th, the following was on August 27th.

We had a great week-end, it will take the rest of the week to tell you everything, there was NO best part, but there was the SURPRISE part.

Mike, Tammy, Nancy and I arrived in Cass within minutes of Bobbie and Tim's arrival.  (Bobbie and Tim are M&T's daughter and son-in-law).  We got our cottage key, checked in, unloaded luggage and baby stuff, great grand-daughter Haleigh is 10 mo old), divied up the rooms - Nancy and I grabbed the one closest to the bathroom (you know how old folks are - if not you soon will), made sure the TV worked.  All the really important stuff.

We were to board the train at 5 p.m. (it was now 3:30 p.m.) so Mike thought that he, Tammie, Nancy and I would wander downtown and scope everything out.  Bobbie, Tim and Haleigh would follow shortly, had to feed, change, etc etc baby Haleigh.  So off we went.

I am not going to go into details now about the trip, I will keep you hanging, but the evening train trip, complete with buffet dinner and blue-grass concert, was fantastic.  We had had beautiful weather until we were about half way up the mountain, when it began raining.  We reached Whittaker station, where we were supposed to have the buffet complete with concert in the outdoor pavilion and picnic area.  

Upon arrival they announced we would just  make a quick pit stop (rest room break), then return to Cass and have the dinner and concert in the Country Store restaurant.  Half way back down the mountain the rain stopped.  Go figure.  When we arrived back at Cass, it was dry.  Best laid plans!!!

We all entered the restaurant, food was fantastic, lots of it and really good.  The Allegheny Outbacks (the blue grass group) were wonderful.  We ate and listened, we were having so much fun when between songs the lead singer and/or announcer, asked if there was a "Martha" in the house. Of course all the kids are pointing at me.  they announced it was my birthday that day, they sang happy birthday, Tammie had a party party hat hidden in the stroller, and of course I had to wear it.

 Needless to say I was crying, speechless (a very rare rarity) surprised, you name it, I was 

(That is Tim and Haleigh on my right, friend Nancy on the left, trying to keep out of the picture.

What an evening!!!!

The concert was great, but as in all good things, it came to an end, and we returned to the cottage.  Tim and Bobbie were first in, Haleigh needed changed.  When I walked through the door there was a birthday cake, complete with candles

balloons, cards, the works.

I was completely over-whelmed.









Then the icing on the cake, so to speak, was when I arrived home last evening and checked my e-mail, It was entirely birthday wishes from all my friends on face book.  Thank you each and every one.  What a wonderful birthday weekend.

I did take over 200 pictures in the 2 days, will take a while to edit and title and arrange. 

All in all it was a wonderful weekend.  I wish everyone of you out there were as blessed as I am with friends and family, the thoughtfulness of said friends and family and the wonderful times we have together.

Have to sign off now, the dealership is picking up our mowing tractor in about an hour for repairs, or trade in, or whatever. 

Be grateful we were not in the path of the hurricane, pray for those that were, and God Bless.

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ASKED?.....AUGUST 26 2011......

To run a quick errand by the man of the house?  If you have you know what I am talking about.  If not - you don't know how lucky you are!

There was the time I was handed a screw, not a new one, but a beat up bent up old one.  I was asked to "run a quick errand" to Home Depot, or some such place and get some screws.  Period.

So there I go merrily on my way, not knowing this would be an all-day adventure.  Do you know how many screws Home Depot carries?  At least a b-jillion.

I flag down an "associate", tell him what I need, he starts looking.  Do I want a screw for wood, or for metal?  A flat head or round head, or even maybe a square head?  The screw comparison continues and continues, finally he finds one that looks about right.  He asks how many.  I ask how they come.  He tells me they come in small boxes, large boxes, 5# boxes and 10# boxes.  He could probably get me something larger if needed.  I have no idea how many "some screws" are.

And the filters.  The men working in our local NAPA store run and hide whenever they see me coming.  The first one I can find gets the honor of waiting on me. 

I am told we need a new filter for the roto-tiller.  I ask what else I need to know.  Just tell them it is for a Wheelhorse tiller, they will know what you want.

So there I go, merrily on my way.  I ask for the filter.  Tell them it is a Wheelhorse tiller.  Then the fun begins.  What type of engine.  I don't know, it just runs.  There are several different types of engines on the various models of tillers.  Do I have the model number.  Nada.  There are also three different 
types of filters, oil, gas, air.  Which one did I want.  Nada.  Of course the man of the house is at work.  Go home without filter.  Next day go back with necessary information.  Two days for a 10 minute errand.

Same situation with spark plugs.  Do you know how many different kinds of spark plugs there are and how many different types of engines take spark plugs, and how many different types of machinery with all different types of engines that take all different types of spark plugs?

I now try to make sure that I have either: #1 - the item to take with me that needs replaced (even tho it didn't work with the screw) and #2 a complete list of make, model number, engine type, serial number, whatever.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

About the time I have either the item or the list, that particular item has been discontinued, and has been replaced by about 10 other ones, and it is a toss-up as to which one of the replacements will work with the original piece of equipment.  Go figure.

And then there are the belts.  Belts run a lot of things.  Our mowing tractor for one.  On Wednesday evening as I was trying to finish mowing the yard, the mower just quit on me.  The engine was running, the mower blades cutting, but the mower was not moving.  I guess I am not supposed to mow the yard.

The man of the house tows the mower up to the shed, and determines that a belt has either come lose or broken.  Might just as well replace the belt.  Asks me if I want to make a quick trip on Thursday.  I need to go to the John Deere dealership in St. Clairsville to get a new belt.  I ask for the necessary information, am told it will be on the table for me in the morning.  So much for that.

In the morning, table empty. No list.  No list anywhere. No belt to take with me.  The longer it takes to get a new belt, the taller the grass will be, the harder it will be to mow, around and around.

I get smart - phone the dealership, tell them that the man of the house said we needed a new drive belt.  What did they need to know so that I would get the right one.

The very nice gentleman I spoke with told me I needed the type of mower, size of the mowing deck, and Model/serial number.  He told me where to look for each one of these items, then call him back and he would make sure they had a belt in stock before I made the trip there. 

Found the info, call him back, he checked and they had the belt available.  Wow.  I can do this in no time at all, on one trip.  Am  I smart or what?

Man of the house comes home from work, checked the belt and even told me it looked like the right one.  Chalk one up for me.

Later in the evening he came in and told me it wasn't the belt.  Either a pulley or a shaft had broken, he hadn't gotten far enough into the innards to know which.  So I can't even win when I am smart.

Am just waiting for him to tell me to return the belt, and he will probably suggest that I load the tractor onto the truck and take it also.  About that time I think I will wrap the belt around his neck.

Complications seem to be the norm now.  Take a toilet seat for instance.  I just want a new seat, white to go with the rest of the room.  Go to Lowes.  I can get a round one, oblong one, red - blue - pink - yellow - orange - purple - but do they have white?  Of course not.  I could get a clear one with seashells imbedded in it.  Or perhaps wood.

Even the grocery store is a challenge.  Can I get green beans without being a rocket scientist?   Of course not.  There must be at least a dozen different kinds of green beans, you name it you have it, french, regular, salted, salt-free, fancy, plain, whatever.  And baked beans.  Have you ever seen so many different kinds of baked beans.   Even ice cream.  How do you decide. 

It takes me longer to shop for groceries than it does to mow the yard.  Of course I won't be mowing the yard for some time to come.  Maybe I'll actually have my grocery shopping done before I have to hop on a mower.  Provided we have a mower.  I refuse to use a scissors!

Today am going to do my grocery shopping, was asked if I could make a "quick stop at Cabela's" to get a filter for the oil pump. I ask what oil pump.  Am told it is the pump that pumps oil - referring to our deep fryer and pumping the oil out of the fryer back into the container when it has cooled.  It's a good thing I asked, I had no clue what-so-ever as to what oil pump he was referring to. 

Will be interesting to see how that plays out. 

I will be off-line the next couple of days as we leave early tomorrow morning for Cass WV for the weekend.  I really really need a break right about now.

Have a good and safe weekend, and God Bless.

THERE ARE APPLES -- AND THEN THERE ARE APPLES......AUGUST 25 2011.....

Apples are apples, oranges are oranges, etc., and then there are the "camouflage" applies.

I know what you are thinking, I have really really lost it now.  The earth quake must have rattled my brain right along with my chair.

So I guess I had better back-track and explain - no I AM NOT crazy, this is for real.

Two years ago Jerry discovered an apple tree on our farm.  It was loaded, and I do mean loaded, with apples.  Very strange and unusual looking apples.  So he brought a few to me and asked if I knew what kind they were.  They were just about the ugliest apples I have ever seen.  He's got to be kidding.

These apples mostly were about the size of oranges.  I had never seen such an apple before.  So I decided to experiment.  I peeled, sliced and cooked the few he brought to see what would happen.  Added sugar and just a touch of cinnamon, ended up with the BEST STEWED APPLES I have ever eaten.  WOW!

Next day he brought home a bag full.  I decided to see if they would make good apple pies.  We ended up with just about the best apple pie I have ever made, and if I do say so myself, I make good pie.

My pie crusts are really rich, I don't skimp on the Crisco.  Makes it a little hard to work with the dough as it is very fragile, but melts in your mouth when eaten.

Enough for bragging.  Jerry kept bringing me apples.  By the time he ran out I had between 15 and 20 pies in the freezer for later eating. 

Last year was a bad fruit season.  The tree had no apples.  My freezer full of pies was empty of pies.  Bummer.  I used other types of apples for pies, but none of them tasted like MY apples.

No one knew what kind of apples they were.  I am sharing a picture of one of them here.  I called them my camouflage apples.  They look like military or hunting camouflage in the green. 

Has anyone ever seen an apple that looks like this?  I know I never have before.  But, oh my, the pie!

Jerry is going to start bringing in apples as he can get them, the tree is very tall, in a very densely wooded area of the farm, very hard to get the apples.

I don't care how many he brings me.
They will go into pies in the freezer.

As fast as these apples fall from the tree the deer are there chowing down.  They seem to think they are the best also.  We have crab apple trees all over the farm, and this time year you regularly see deer standing on their back legs, pulling the apples off of the trees.  But MY apples fall onto the ground, they don't have to work for them, so it is whoever gets there first gets the apples.

Things must really be bad, if I am reduced to asking if anyone knows what kind of apple it is that I have on our farm.

But I surely would love to know the real name of my camoflauge apples.

If you are in the neighborhood, and I have pies in the freezer, stop by, we will bake one and I would love your opinion.

We had apple pie last night for supper.  Have enough left for tonight.  All I have to say is Jerry had better get to those apples first!

In the meantime, enjoy your wet cloudy Thursday and God Bless.

WHAT AM I MISSING?.....AUGUST 24 2011.....................

Good question.  I must be missing something.  Maybe I really don't want to know what I am missing.  Perhaps it is better to be like the ostrich, burying my head in the sand.  Maybe not.

Let's see - On Sunday we had sunshine, thunder, lightning, torrential rains, horrendous wind, a 20 foot tree down across our driveway.  Just your every-day Sunday.

Monday was beautiful all day, cool temps, blue sky, fluffy white clouds, the best of the best.

Tuesday was a beautiful day, warm temps, blue sky, fluffy white clouds, the best of the best plus an EARTH QUAKE.  the entire east coast was rocked with this earth quake, clear up into Canada, west into Michigan.

I had just come in from outside and was sitting at my computer when my chair began to vibrate.  I thought one of the dogs was leaning against the chair and scratching itself (they have a tendency to do that), but upon looking - no dogs in sight.  The chair was doing it's thing all by itself. 

Just about that time I began to think that I had really really lost it - my mind that is.  Just too much going on.  Now I am imagining vibrating chairs. 

Then the phone rings.  It is daughter Linda in Arizona.  "DID YOU FEEL THE EARTH QUAKE?"  Voila, the light bulb came on.  My chair really was vibrating, it was the earth quake.  I turned on Fox news, and, yes, we were experiencing a real live quake.  If I am nuts, so is everyone else in the entire eastern United States.

This makes the third time in my life that I have experienced that phenomena.
When  I was about 10 years old I remember seeing the pictures on the walls at home slipping and sliding.  Yelling for my Mom, I asked what was happening and she explained that we had just experienced an earth quake.  WOW!

The second time was when I was still working for the County.  I was on the 4th floor of the county office building.  All at once our chairs began moving around (they were all on rollers, you know the drill) and they were moving us around all by themselves.  It was another earth quake. I guess the higher up you are, the more you feel the movement.

Jerry came after work yesterday and told me he was in a meeting, when all the papers on the table began walking around all by themselves.  They are all looking at each other, but no one wanted to say anything - what if you were just imagining it?

And on top of all this we have a hurricane bearing down on the east coast which could be one of the worst in several years. 

I must have missed a lot of news, and weather reports, and warnings, because I really didn't expect any of the above.  Either that, or all the news, weather reports and warnings didn't materialize, or I just didn't pay that much attention, because the weather reports are wrong most of the time any way.  Whatever, it has been an unusual few days.

Now back to normality.  Got some mowing done yesterday, made my zucchini bread, and printed what pictures I am going to add for the business when festivals start again in September.  Today have to take car into dealership for recall repairs.  Will, hopefully, finish mowing this afternoon, but right now it looks pretty iffy.


This is one of our pretty summer evenings, as the sun is going down.  We get so many beautiful sunset here on the hill top.

I am going to share one more picture with you today.  This was from my Hawaiian trip. 

I call it WHIMSIES.  I guess that is a word, but that is the title of the picture.  Can you guess which one is me?

If you all are smart, and I know you are or you wouldn't be reading my blog, you should be able to pick me out in a heart-beat. 

This is why I always have a camera at hand, you never know when there is going to be a photo-op, indoors or out.

The photo-op I am waiting for is my daughter walking the streets of Bentleyville in her "pink tutu".  If you don't know what I am talking about, read her blog of a couple of days ago.  The link to her blog is usually on my home page.

Well, signing out for now, have to hit the road.  Hopefully we will have a calm day, no jiggling and shaking, walking papers and vibrating chairs.  If not, well just hold on tight, say a prayer, and God Bless.

FALL's A'COMIN......AUGUST 23 2011.................

How true!  I can't believe September is almost here, and that another year is flying by.  The holidays are just around the corner. 

We have been here on the farm a little over 6 years.  When I look around it is hard to believe how much we have done during this period. 

Mowed yesterday afternoon.  Have to wait until afternoon as it takes the grass that long to dry off now.  Usually by early to mid-August, I only have to mow about every 10 days to 2 weeks.  Not this year.  I have to mow every week or you have to wade through the grass. 

My entire year has been one crazy, mixed-up, you have to live it to believe it, did I say crazy, year.  Even the weather has been crazy.  We had a storm come through about 4 p.m. Sunday afternoon that was unbelievable.  It had been thundering for about an hour, when suddenly the sky just opened up.  It rained so hard, the wind blew so hard, the rain was going sideways, not down, and you could not see anything outside except for a sheet of water.  We got a little over half an inch of rain in about 15 minutes, then boom - it was over.

Now our entire east coast is being threatened with one of the worse hurricanes for several years.  If this year isn't a wake-up call, I wonder what the real wake-up call will be like?

Yesterday was beautiful, but the air definitely had the feel of fall.  Today is starting out sunny and bright also.  If it holds, will mow some more this afternoon.  If not, will not.

Our farm is on both sides of the main paved road.  We live on top of the hill on one side, the remainder consists of what we call the bottom, it is in the valley then extends to the top of the hill opposite of where we live.  We can see the top of our other hill from our house, and the area Jerry keeps mowed off.

We have two original barns remaining in the bottom from the original farm, when Jerry was growing up, in the bottom.  

Some of the clean-up crew in the bottom



Tim farms our bottom, hay is the crop this year, and last year.  I think corn will be the crop the next couple of years.  He rotates the crops, some years it is alfalfa.  I never know what it will be until it starts to grow.

There is a creek that runs through the bottom, next to where the hills start. 

It is the time of year when the birds are beginning to flock together, making sure they get plenty to eat before their long trek south.  Some days our yard will be completely covered with robins, and other birds.  Then one day, they are all gone.  The winter and/or year-round birds are here, but the others have disappeared. 

The clean up crew was holding a conference on one of the barn roofs, probably deciding when it would be time to head out.

The leaves are also starting to change, you can see subtle differences in the different types of trees, a little darkening, just a hint of color, won't be long until the magic of fall returns. 

Why is it when you are in the "fall of your life" you get wrinkled, you hair turns gray, and you just start looking old.  We should be like the trees, have that last burst of beauty, before the on-set of winter.  Right now I could use a touch of fall.

Everyone have a wonderful day - after all the sun IS shining - and God Bless.

AN EASY WEEK..at least for me..AUGUST 22 2011................

This week should be a breeze.  A good thing because I think my mind is fried.  It desperately needs a rest.  First I'll tell you about my week, then I will do something a little different.

My list is pretty short this week: 

Mat my last picture for Art in the Garden, then deliver the framed and matted pictures to Washington.

Mow the yard, both front and back.

Use up my last zucchini for zucchini bread.

Get an overnight bag packed for our Cass RR trip leaving Saturday morning.

Get spare room ready for Nancy for Friday night sleep-over.

Get stuff ready to take to the cottage we have rented for Saturday night.  They supply everything except food.  The only meal we have to worry bout is breakfast on Sunday morning.  Planning on taking instant coffee, tea bags, sugar, creamer, zucchini bread and home-made coffee cake ( I had made extra and put them in the freezer).  That should do us.

This week should be (tongue in cheek) a breeze. 

A little red squirrel watching over me.

Now for the something different.

For quite a long while now I have been compiling a series of - short stories, funny blurbs, interesting subjects, whatever - that I have received via e-mail over the years.  I am calling this series INTERNET CONNECTIONS.

I doubt that this series will ever become a book, but in the meantime I enjoy collecting them, and enjoy being able to go back and re-read a lot of them.  So here goes:

                                     A POINT IN YOUR LIFE

There comes a point in your life when you realize:  Who matters, Who never did, Who won't anymore.....And who always will.

So don't worry about people from your past.  There's a reason why they didn't make it to your future.

                                     I DON'T UNDERSTAND

Let me see if I understand all this:

If you cross the Iranian border illegally you are detained indefinitely....

If you cross into Mexico illegally you get 10 years in prison......

But if you cross the U. S. border illegally, you get a DRIVER's LICENSE, SOCIAL SECURITY CARD, WELFARE, FOOD STAMPS AND FREE HEALTH CARE.

                   I GUESS IS TILL DON'T UNDERSTAND!

                           INNOCENCE IS PRICELESS!

One Sunday morning the pastor noticed little Alex standing in the foyer of the church, staring up at a large plaque.  It was covered with names and small American flags mounted on either side of it.  the six year old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside the little boy, and said quietly:  "Good morning Alex".

"Good morning Pastor", he replied, still focused on the plaque.  "Pastor, what is this?"  The Pastor replied: "Well, son, it's a memorial to all the young men and women who died in the service".

Soberly they just stood together, staring at the large plaque.  Finally, little Alex's voice, barely audible, and trembling with fear asked:

"WHICH SERVICE, THE 8:30 OR THE 10:30?

It is the little things, like these, that you never tire of reading.  Each time there is a lesson to be learned, a smile or a chuckle, possibly a tear. 

It is the little things, like these, that make up life.  So enjoy the little, and the big, things in your life, take nothing for granted, and God Bless.

PASSING THE TEST...YES or NO?...AUGUST 21 2011

It's not who is having a test, it is what.  The Futon had it's first test last night.  I don't know what the results are yet, so far this morning I haven't seen anyone, even tho we had a house full last night.  They were all up bright and early this morning and are somewhere out on the farm, doing, who knows what.  I know they are still here as the trucks are still parked in the driveway.  Otherwise, nada.

One of Jerry's friends, Steve who lives in Canonsburg, and his teen-age daughter Abby came yesterday morning.  Steve owns a second piece of property, here in West Alexander, a farm adjoining Jerry's farm on the south.  He and Abby were in and out all day yesterday, clearing the ATV paths through the farm, getting ready for hunting season.  You know, cutting up fallen trees, clearing the underbrush, mowing the tall grass?  weeds?  whatever.

Another member of his group, Homer, arrived early last evening.  Abby, of course because she is a girl, gets the spare room.  The guys camp in the family room.  Hence the first test of the futon.

We also have a 7 foot cot, which, I have been told, is very comfortable.  We got it for when my Maine grandson visits, he is 6'6" and a basketball player.  He needed something where he didn't hang over when sleeping.

My Maine grandson at his college graduation this past spring.  You can see he needs the extra leg-room, especially when trying to sleep.

You ought to see him fold him-self up to get into his car.  I always think we will need a can opener to get him out, but so far he has managed.  give him another 50 years.  Will be a different story.

Anyhow back to the gist of this blog. 

They spent the night, and disappeared.  I may or may not see them sometime today.  They all pretty much do their own thing. 

This picture is of Steve, Homer, and on the right Tim.  He was here last evening, but because he lives just over the hill, I didn't have to worry about finding him a place for him to sleep.  Thank goodness!

This picture was taken during rabbit season.  They hunt every chance they get, rabbit, squirrel, ground hogs, crows, deer, turkeys, any thing that is legal.  I would hate to think I had to bail them out of jail for something else.  In fact, I might just let them sit for a few days.

So here I am, playing the waiting game once again.  Did the futon pass the sleep test or not?  It is very very comfortable to sit on as a couch.  But as a bed - I am still waiting for the verdict to come in.

Until next time, enjoy the rest of your weekend and God Bless.

THE MAIL POUCH SIGN....AUGUST 20 2011................

As you probably know, Mail Pouch barns have been around our area for better than 100 years now.  Wow!

Mail Pouch Barn painting was our very first type of road-side advertising.  The Bloch Bros. Tobacco Company in Wheeling WV started sending crews out in the early 1900's to paint the sign on barns facing the road.  The barn owners received a royalty check each year.  I know of folks today, who still have the MP sign painted on their barns, and they continue to receive these checks. 

But there is this one sign.  No one knows where it came from.  No one knows anything about it.  It is a complete mystery.

Mr Stuart Bloch, a descendant of the original Bloch Brothers, attended our Barnstormers picnic this past August, and spoke to us about the company.

I thought I would share with you how I came to have a picture of this unique sign.

Several years ago while participating in the Salt Fork Arts Festival in Cambridge Ohio I was approached by a gentleman who either worked for, or had worked for, the Tobacco warehouse in Wheeling.

He told me about this sign.  He kindly gave me a phone number.  Needless to say first thing Monday morning, after returning home from the festival, I started making phone calls.  It took me several days, but finally I found the right person. She arranged a Saturday morning appointment for me.

On that Saturday she escorted me to the warehouse, told me I would have 15 minutes, she would be there, as the warehouse was "off limits" to the general public.

The sign was across the warehouse.  There was stuff stacked around it.  There was one lone fluorescent light hanging over it.  Too far away to use the flash, had to make due.  In that 15minutes I managed to get 36 shots  (an entire roll of film) before I was escorted back outside.

After Mr Bloch had made his presentation at the picnic, I approached him and asked him about the sign.  He was not familiar with it, asked me if I could send him a picture.  I did.  I got a very nice reply from him.  All he knew was that at some point in time they were cleaning out one of the rooms, found this sign, and the employees thought it was so interesting they hung it in the warehouse where it remains today.

I have written to Mr. Bloch, asking if it would be possible to re-photograph the sign.  Maybe, just maybe, with the new digital technology I can get a better picture.  Only time will tell.

If, and when, I get to try again, I will continue the story of this particular Mail Pouch Sign.

In the meantime have a great weekend and God Bless.

IT's TIME TO CHANGE GEARS .....AUGUST 19 2011.............

I think you have had about all you want of the trials of Martha D.  Don't worry, there will be more, I seem to be a magnet for all the weird stuff.  But today wanted to do something different.

My third and last volume of IF ONLY I COULD TALK is scheduled to be out this fall, in time for Christmas shopping.  I thought today that I would share one of the stories with you. 

This story came from the family's trip to Alaska in 2008.  I hope you enjoy it.
I had never seen Musk-Ox before, just pictures.  We saw three very large herds while traveling through the Brooks Range.  I learned their history.  I would like to share it with you, from one of the Ox's point of view.

ALASKA's MUSK OX

Ahh! What a wonderful place to live and play, grow and learn.

I have lived here all my life, here in the wonderful Brooks Range, between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay.  The grass is lush and tall, my musk-ox family large and extended.  My memories are many, my life has been long, soon I will be the one called "the bull".  All of us guys know that when we reach a certain age we will be designated as such.  It is our way of life. Sometimes life can be very hard.

We go back thousands of years, are related to the TAKIN found in the Himalayan Mountains.  In Alaska we are known, in the native alaskan language, as OOMINGMAK, which means "the animal with skin like a beard".

There I was as a child, with my sister and Mother.  We are a very strange and awesome looking animal.

We can grow to 3-5 foot tall, and weigh 500-900 pounds.  We love the Alaskan Tundra, with plenty of grasses, woody plants, and our very very favorite, the willow.

We have heavy, layered fur, 3-4 inches thick, completely covering our bodies, including our feet.  We just kind of look big, shaggy, cumberson, and messy.  We have never figured out how to keep our heavy fur looking neat, so you kind of have to take us as we are.

It is a very god thing we have this heavy shaggy fur as the winters here on the Tundra can get as cold as 70 degrees BELOW zero.

I grew up on the Tundra, playing with other Musk-Ox children, happy and free, afraid of nothing.  Because Mom and Dad are so big and strong, we do not even begin to imagine any other way to live, or know of the dangers we could sometimes face.

Then one day I learned what it meant to be threatened, to be afraid, and what it meant to be "THE BULL".

We were just wandering along, eating the grass and willows, running and playing, life was so much fun.  Then suddenly all the Moms and Dads began calling us together, and as we came together us children were herded into a tight little group, and then the big Musk Ox began forming a circle around us.  We were so tightly packed we could hardly move.

 Of course I was frightened.  What was wrong?  Why were we being so confined?  I began to cry and shake, but soon one of the Moms told me it would be o.k.  There was a nasty big animal out there that wanted to hurt us, especially us children.  The circle began to gradually move, herding us away from the danger.

We kept gradually moving, but the danger kept coming behind us, getting closer and closer.  Then I heard the grown-ups talking.  I kept hearing that the "Bull" would protect us.   How could that be?  He was only one Musk-Ox against the danger.  I really needed to know what would happen.

Very gradually I kind of worked myself around so that I could peek out between two of the grown-ups.

As I watched and listened, I heard the older Musk-Ox Bulls talking among themselves.  They seemed to reach an agreement, and one Bull stopped walking with us.  The other Bulls told us to keep our circle tight, but to move away as fast as we could.  Why wasn't the other Bull coming?  What was happening?

The old Bull gave one last long look at his herd, then slowly turned and began going toward the danger........

It was much later that I learned that when danger threatened, one of the Old Bulls volunteered himself to face the danger alone so that the rest of the herd could reach safety.

He would fight until overcome, and give his life for the rest of us.

Here I am, now, as an adult, see my horns?

My memories are many, my life has been long and wonderful.  But now I am the "Old Bull", it is my responsibility to see that my herd is protected and nurtured.  Each day that I can be with my herd is a blessing.  I know that somewhere down the road there will be a danger.

Maybe tomorrow.  Maybe next year.  But my time will come, and then I will turn and walk back toward the danger to give my life so that my herd can survive.

This is just one of 20 stories in my newest "talk" book.  If you would like to read more, some are funny, some sad, but you learn from every story, you can order them through Amazon books, my web-site, my e-mail address or Double Edge Press.

I hope you have enjoyed this story, and have learned something to boot.  It was after completing this three volume series that I began to blog.  I also have the books with me at the various art festivals.

I hope your Friday will be a good day for all, and God Bless.

IT NEVER JUST SPRINKLES - IT POURS....AUGUST 18 2011

I told Jerry last night to make a very big sign to put at the end of our driveway reading DOUGHERTY's - THE HAPPEN'IN PLACE.  Needless to say he just looked at me in that strange way, wondering how long it would be before he could have me committed.  It would be just one more thing to keep the neighbor's head's shaking.

Why the sign?  Do you really want to know?  Guess I'll tell you anyway.

This is Thursday August 18.  Between now and Monday September 12 I just have a few things on my plate (calendar?) whatever.

No 1.  Between now and August 30 I have to get 3 pictures selected and framed, and choose 5 matted prints.  The reason - For quite a few years now I have participated in the Washington Co Historical Society's annual ART IN THE GARDEN exhibition and sale, held the first Sunday after Labor Day at the LeMoyne House gardens.  That would be Sunday august 11. Each invited artist is permitted to have said number of pictures, all for sale, and the Historical Society retains 30% of the sales.  It is their major fund raiser of the year.

This is one of the framed pictures I am submitting, "The Haunted Mansion". 

This is the porch of an 1800's mansion located in Woodsfield Ohio which now has the reputation of being haunted.

I know the place looks deserted and decrepit, paint peeling, gardens over-grown, etc.  You know the scenario.

No 2.  Friday August 19.  Going to a party  being held at one of my neighbors.

No 3.  Wednesday August 24.  Taking my van to dealership,- it has been recalled for a problem that needs to be fixed.

No 4.  Friday August 26.  Get spare room shoveled out as my friend Nancy (from Claysville) is spending the night.  Why? 

No 5.  Saturday August 27.  Because Mike, Tammie, granddaughter Bobbie, her husband Tim, Nancy and I are leaving verrrry early Saturday morning for Cass WV.  We are booked on the Saturday evening dinner train trip up to Whittaker Station in the WV mountains for a blue grass concert.  We have one of Cass's restored row house for the night.  That is one of my coming adventures I had mentioned.  We return Sunday afternoon.

No 6.  Now then I have just 4 days to accomplish the following: Prepare spare room / family room for guests.  Son Andy and wife Lauri arriving Friday Night September 2, staying until Sunday September 11, the same day as Art in the Garden.

No 7.  Monday September 5 friend Nancy spending the night with us as we will be leaving verrry early Tuesday morning for Niagara Falls.

No 8.  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, September 6 - 7 - 8 Andy, Lauri, Nancy and I have reservations in Niagara Falls Canada for the three days.  This is my second adventure that I mentioned previously.

No. 9  Wednesday September 7 good friends from Nutrioso Arizona arriving for the night.

Do you see a conflict here?  We have 3 bedrooms, and the family room complete with futon.  Two bedrooms are already occupied, one by Jerry, one by me.  That leaves 1 bedroom, 1 family room, and three different sets of guests, over-lapping.  Of course two sets of these guests will be gone to N.F., set number 3 arrives while we are gone.  Jerry gets all the honors.  Hope he remembers to change the bedding in the spare room!  I will miss seeing Jim and Diane as it has been two years.  But as I said it never just sprinkles, it pours.

No 10 And in the middle of all this we are having big cook-out for family and friends on Sunday September 4 so everyone can get together with Andy and Lauri.

I am sure by the end of all this Jerry will have the straight-jacket open and ready for me.  But I love every minute of it.  Says a lot for my mentality, doesn't it.  But I wouldn't have it any other way. 

If you want to get involved with this nut-house, just c'mn on up on Sunday September 4 and join the cook-out.  Be sure you are in good health as it could be over-whelming. 

I wonder what will be next.  Have a good day and God Bless.

THE SOAP OPERA NEVER ENDS ... AUGUST 17 2011......

Yesterday morning when I blogged, I thought (notice I did not say "knew") that everything was under control.

It was a beautiful day, so worked outside a while, then decided to clean house.  It would be nice for Jerry when he got home mid-afternoon to be clean.  This time of year, cleaning is, at the very best, a minimum.  So cleaned house.

The kids were scheduled to land in Pittsburgh at 1:00 p.m.  I knew they would be tired because they flew all night.

I just sat down, at about 1:30 when the phone rang.  Figured it was Jerry, letting me know they had landed safely. 

Hello.  "This is Alaska airlines, I need to speak with Gerald Dougherty".

He hasn't arrived at home yet, they just landed in Pittsburgh.  Can I help you?

"You sure can.  I am calling from O'Hare airport in Chicago. There are 4 boxes of fish sitting here, that are labeled "dry Ice" and we can't ship them on to Pittsburgh until we know how many pounds of dry ice are in each box."

Here I am, going back down the rabbit hole, again!

I told her I could call Jerry's cell, get the information and call her back.  She gave me the number in Chicago to call.

Called Jerry.  Told him about phone call.  Asked him about the dry ice.  He told me there was NO dry ice, the fish was flash frozen and packed in insulated boxes.  The dry ice labels were in error.  Great!!!

Told him I would get back to him.  Called Chicago.  Spoke with the nice, normal lady, told her about mis-labeling.  She said good.  The fish could be sent to Pittsburgh.  I asked her when it would arrive.  She told me the next flight to Pittsburgh would arrive in Pittsburgh at 6:40 p.m.  As soon as she had it confirmed she would call me with the air line, flight number, and arrival time.

Back to Jerry.  "What do you mean 6:40 p.m.  That's over 4 hours."  Like I had any control over this.  "I'll see what I can arrange here."

The freezer is up and running - I checked it and it is very very cold inside.  The house is clean.  The guys are in Pittsburgh.  The fish is in Chicago.  I wonder how long it will stay frozen?

About 3:30 p.m. Mike and Jerry walk in.  I asked about the fish.  The airport was going to deliver it as soon as it arrived.  If there were no more delays, it would still be frozen when it arrived.  There was a total of 4 boxes, 50# of fish in each box, two for Jerry and two for Mike.  No one knew if all 4 boxes would go to one address, or how it would be split up.

We might get all 4, Mike might get all 4, or each of them would get 2.  I think they were considering joining me in the rabbit hole.

So the waiting game began.  6:40 p.m. arrived, so assumed the fish was being picked up for delivery.  Should have it by 8:30 p.m.  8:30 came and went.  9:00 came and went.  9:30 came and went.  No fish.  No phone call.  Maybe we can't get telephone reception here in the rabbit hole.

Jerry started making phone calls - we could call out - was finally informed that our "lost luggage" had been picked up at 8:30, along with a lot of other lost luggage.  Total delivery time 2 - 4 hours.  What happened to the 6:40 arrival?

10:30 came and went.  11:00 came and went.  11:30 came and went.  We are pacing the floor.  Is the fish still frozen, or will we have to bury it in the woods somewhere?  At midnight - yes midnight - the delivery man came.  We were his last delivery of the night.

Now if you have 4 boxes handed to you, along with 18 (he told us that) pieces of lost luggage, and the 4 boxes were labeled 'PERISHABLE' wouldn't you deliver that first?  No we were the farthest from Pittsburgh, so we were last.

Now if it were me, I would do the farthest first - especially if marked perishable, and work my way back towards Pittsburgh.  Then I would have a shorter drive home (he told me he lived in Pittsburgh). 

We had called Mike that all 4 boxes were at our house, he said he would be over today to pick up his fish (at least some of it).

Now you have to do the math.  The Monday fishing trip came in at noon.  The fish had to be sent to the whatever for fileting, flash freezing and packing.  The first two days of fishing were already frozen.  They picked up the fish on their way to Anchorage, to catch the midnight flight to Pittsburgh.  We get the fish at midnight last night - it had been AT LEAST 24 plus hours since the last fish had been frozen. 

These are the containers that the fish were shipped in.  They are packed in the styrofoam, then packed in boxes, labeled in red PERISHABLE

I have to admit, their shipping containers DO work.  All the fish was still frozen.  Our freezer is full.  We will be eating high on the hog (high on the fish?) for sometime to come.  The guys said it was one of the best trips ever, Jerry even had a picture of a volcano spewing steam into the air.

Needless to say, neither Mike or Jerry went to work today. 

Our full freezer.  Mike's fish is in the large box, ours in grocery bags.  Makes it easier to get out just a few packages at a time and bring them upstairs to the refrigerator freezer.

Are we smart or what?????  Probably the "what"!

So, how was your day yesterday?  I hope I have seen the rabbit hole for the very last time. God Bless.

JUST CALL ME ----- DARNED IF I KNOW WHAT..AUGUST 16 2011


Genius?  Jack-of-all-trades?  Know-it-all? Can do anything?  Can't do anything?  Darned if I know!

I am sitting at home, just minding my own business yesterday afternoon when I receive this phone call.  I was half way expecting this call, figured one of the kids would touch base re their trip home.   I was right.

Jerry called.  They were just getting ready to leave Homer for their drive to Anchorage.  I asked how the fishing went.  He said fantastic, they did get to book a half day for fishing yesterday morning, and were coming home tired, but happy. 

I asked how much fish they caught.  Answer "Lots".  How much is "lots".  Fish were biting like crazy.  Lots means a lot.  Dumb me.

I asked if we were going to have enough room for all this frozen fish.  But before I get into that, I need to back up a little bit.  Well, maybe a big bit.

In our family room downstairs we have a refrigerator, next to it an upright freezer, and next to it, now, a small chest freezer.  The reason I say now is that the chest freezer used to be in another location, then after Bob moved out, we moved the chest freezer over beside the two other appliances.  We (meaning Jerry) cleaned out the chest freezer, and did not want to plug it in right away.  Then off to Alaska!  To catch fish!  Never mind that the upright freezer is full, almost to capacity.  Piece of cake. 


This is the view from the plane when crossing the Canadian Rockies.

So we have a refrigerator, full of soft (and some hard) drinks for the gang when everyone is here.  The fridge freezer is full of stuff.  Odds and ends.  A little bit of this and a little bit of that.

The upright freezer is our beef freezer, along with frozen vegetables, blackberries (that were picked on the farm and frozen) home-made frozen pies and other stuff.

The chest freezer is sitting there with it's top up, looking stupid.

And so I asked my dumb question, "are we going to have enough room for all this fish?"

Jerry said sure, all I had to do was go downstairs and plug in the chest freezer.  That would give plenty of time for it to cool down before he got home today.  Piece of cake.  Ha ha ha ha!

Number l - the closest electric outlet is between the refrigerator and upright freezer.  Thank goodness the refrigerator is plugged into another outlet further away.

No 2 - the upright freezer is soooo big I cannot reach the outlet on the wall.  There is just slightly an arm's width of space between the freezer and the fridge.  My arms are about 3 inches too short.  There are no other outlets closer.

No 3 - the chest freezer cord isn't long enough anyway to go behind the upright freezer and plug in.  It is like my arms, about 3 inches too short.

No 4 - don't know how many pounds of frozen fish is on its way to West Alexander.

Not to worry, I can do anything.  Right?

Mike is gone - and I was informed that some of his fish was coming to my house as he doesn't have enough room for all of it at his house.  I haven't seen Tim, not sure if he is home or not.  No way am I going to bother my neighbors, they have enough to shake their heads about as it is.

So being the genius that I am I started looking for power strips.  I finally found one that did not have a really long cord, but it was a very very very well insulated power cord, could probably stand up by itself. 

Getting hold of the cord, reaching as far as I could, I managed to get it aimed at the outlet, and with a little jiggling and pushing the prongs found the right holes.  It took some doing, but eventually I did get it plugged in.  When I pressed the on button, it lit up.  Be careful not to jiggle anything, and maybe it will stay plugged in.

Next I plugged the freezer plug into the power strip, and heard the freezer kick on.  So I am standing there holding this stuff, not knowing what to do with it.  Finally I decided to try laying the power strip, complete with cords on top of the upright freezer.  They just made it.  I didn't want to drop anything on to the floor, for fear it would come unplugged, for fear I would not be able to retrieve it to replug it, for fear I would be facing  boxes of fish with nowhere to put them.

So this morning I am playing the waiting game.  The freezer is cooling down.  Hopefully it will be cold enough.  The light is still on  for the power cord, so unless the light is lying to me, it is working. 

Isn't it great having a genius like me just loafing around at home, waiting for these weird phone calls, so I show everyone just how smart I am?

If you believe that one, I really feel sorry for you.  In the meantime, enjoy your calm serene day without having to worry about being buried by frozen fish, and God Bless.

UP's AND DOWN's........AUGUST 15 2011......................

I have a little bit of everything to talk about today.  First of all - today marks the halfway point to September.  I'm not ready for September.  I am still trying to get my June list under control.  Then there is my July list, and my August list.  Maybe I should just tear them up and start on my September list now, then maybe when October arrives my September stuff will be done.  Yeah, right!!!!!

When I got to Church yesterday morning, first thing Pastor Dan asked was if Mike was back from Alaska yet.  Told him no, he was scheduled to return Tuesday, provided he doesn't all off the boat.  Which was a distinct possibility yesterday

I had just walked in the house from Church when the phone rang.  It was Jerry, calling, of course, from Alaska.  No - no one fell of the boat.  But they did have to turn back yesterday morning as they began encountering up to 7 foot waves.  Nothing to fool with.  They were contemplating doing some fly fishing yesterday afternoon.  They are also trying to book a half day fishing trip today, before they start for Anchorage for their flight home late tonight.

I believe I have mentioned that in 2008 there were a group of us, family and friends, flying to Alaska, doing a week of touring, then a week of cruising back to Vancouver.


This was part of our group, from front to back, left to right:

Son Jerry, I don't know who that woman is, daughter-in-law Tammie, son Mike right behind Tammie, then daughter Linda and son-in-law Dave.

Jerry, Mike and Dave are three of the four in Alaska fishing this week.

This was in the Brooks Range in late July, yes that was snow on the ground.  Tammie, Mike and me looking down the valley where the Alaska Pipeline runs.

What an experience that was.

The next picture is of the beautiful water in Alaska.  Hopefully when the kids get back this week, I will be able to confiscate a few of Jerrry's pictures to share with you. 

Now back to yesterday.

We sang one of my favorite hymns this morning, and I just wanted to share the words with you here. 

The composer of this hymn is Natalie Sleeth, and it appears in the UMC hymnal.

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed an apple tree.

In cocoons a hidden promise: butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter there's a spring that waits to be,
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There's a song in every silence, seeking word and melody:
there's a dawn in every darkness bringing hope to you and me.

From the past will come the future; what it holds, a mystery
unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

In our end is our beginning; in our time, infinity;
in our doubt there is believing; in our life eternity.

In our death, a resurrection; at the last a victory,
unrevealed until its season, something God Alone can see.

I hope no one is offended when I write of things like this, but it is so true, a wonderful way to look at life as a whole.

Later in the afternoon I had an e-mail from Judy in Cambridge.  Russ got another award this weekend.  I don't know any of the details, but am so excited for him.  His work is so awesome and unique, he works so very hard to create each work of art, all of which are originals, he deserves the recognition. 

I think this is a good time to share this picture of him receiving his award at the Y-Bridge festival a week ago.

He's the guy in the white shirt.

Our families have been friends for 30 plus years, we met at an art festival long long ago when we were both just getting started, and have been friends ever since.

So you can see it has been kind of a hodge-podge day, a little of this and a little of that.  I don't know what tomorrow will bring.  I really don't want to know, as that way every day is a surprise.  So look forward to your surprise tomorrow, and God Bless.

SOME MESSAGES ARE REALLY WORTH SHARING...AUGUST 14 2011.......

Sometimes when my mind is blank, like today, I happen across some little thing, and, how about that, it gives me something to talk about.

On yesterday's facebook page there was a "blurb" from a friend from my church.  After reading it I just had to share:

IN RESPONSE TO THE EMAILS ABOUT MY DOG: I am sick to death of receiving questions about my dog who mauled 6 illegals wearing Obama tee shirts, 4 Democrats wearing Pelosi tee shirts, 2 rappers, 10 PLAYDOM programmers, 5 phone operators who asked me to press #1 for English, 9 teenagers with pants hanging down past their cracks, 8 customer service desk people speaking in broken English, and 3 flag burners, . FOR THE LAST TIME...MY DOG IS NOT FOR SALE! :)

I would love to have a dog like that.  It seems the entire country has lost it completely.  What ever happened to the United States of America?  We certainly are not united, everyone is "entitled", spend spend spend, you name it, it is happening.  I am sure this was not in the game plan. 

Enough of that for now.  Don't get me started.  I WILL go on and on and on.

On a more funner note, the kids all arrived in Alaska safely on Thursday, fishing, Friday, Saturday and today, driving from Homer to Anchorage on Monday, getting to sight-see on the way, flying out of Anchorage about midnight Alaska time Monday, arriving in Pittsburgh about noon on Tuesday, our time.

They will be tired somebody's when they get home.  Wonder how much fish they will have with them this year?  Good eating down the road.


May in Salem Mass.


Got a lot accomplished Friday.   Was a good day to be working out.

Finished weeding my iris bed , looks a lot better.  I just can't believe how much yard work got shoved aside this year because of the weather.  Am so far behind I think I am first. 

Also got most of the yard mowed.  There is a little section yet that needs done, it will still be there when I get around to it.  All day yesterday it looked as if it were going to open up and rain any time, so played the waiting game.

The Steelers didn't do so well on Friday night, but they will improve.

Sailing ship Friendship Salem Mass

After all they only had one week of practice.  They played mostly their second, third and fourth string of players, all in all they did o.k. considering.

Hopefully it will be a different story when the "Real" season starts. 

Other than that nothing new or exciting happening on the home front.  I keep hoping Russ is having a good weekend at the Salt Fork Arts Festival.  I don't know what I miss the most, being at the festival, or visiting with Ted and Judy.  Today's weather forecast for this area is pretty bad.  I hope all the bad stuff moved through Cambridge last night, and that they will not have to tear down, and pack up in the rain.  That is the pits.  Especially when you have to bring home a wet tent, then set it up to dry out.  Been there, done that, don't want to do it anymore.
But it goes with the territory. 

Maybe by tomorrow I'll have something new, exciting, mind boggling, amazing, awesome, and wonderful to talk about.  But---don't hold your breath and God Bless.